The genetic identification of the victims of mass murders, terrorist attacks and ethnic cleansings is an exceedingly challenging task due to the advanced degree of the decomposition of human corpses and the sheer amount of the remains. In such situations, the most reliable results are delivered when using identification techniques that rely on the methods of molecular biology. This work presents the influence of the issues connected with the identification of the victims of ethnic cleansings in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the development of forensic science worldwide. The introduction contains a description of the most important types of genetic tests which serves to acquaint the reader with the rudimentary aspects of forensic biology. Practical experience gained in the course of the studies in the area of former Yugoslavia has allowed to introduce new solutions into the field of forensic genetics and to improve upon the existing methods of personal identification.